April was a season defining month on the pitch for Derby County.
With seven games to cram in and 21 points to play for, it would almost certainly answer where the Rams would finish their 2022/23 Sky Bet League One campaign in early May.
And that it did…almost.
Here, dcfc.co.uk has taken a look back at how April unfolded.
01/04 – Derby County 0-2 Ipswich Town
April got off to a tough start for the Rams as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat to automatic promotion chasing Ipswich Town
The Rams had an Eiran Cashin goal wrongly disallowed with the Tractor Boys leading 1-0 at the time but ultimately it was strikes from Conor Chaplin and George Hirst that saw the visitors take all three points.
07/04 – Forest Green Rovers 0-2 Derby County
The Rams got back to winning ways on Good Friday when they saw off relegation threatened Forest Green Rovers away from home.
A first minute penalty from James Collins was backed up by a goal late in the second half from David McGoldrick to ensure the Rams picked up their first win in four and keep the pressure on the top six.
10/04 – Derby County 1-1 MK Dons
Derby were made to rue a host of missed chances on Easter Monday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by MK Dons at Pride Park Stadium.
David McGoldrick scored his 21st goal of the season to give the Rams the lead early on but they were pegged back in the second half by Henry Lawrence's close-range finish.
Paul Warne’s side had 28 shots to the Dons’ three on the day but were unable to find the all-important winner.
15/04 – Bristol Rovers 1-1 Derby County
Warne’s side were only seconds away from making it back-to-back away victories when they met Bristol Rovers in mid-April.
McGoldrick had put the Rams 1-0 up early doors at the Memorial Stadium and it was a scoreline that remained the same right up until the last minute of stoppage time.
The hosts were awarded a penalty when Harvey White was adjudged to have fouled his man in the box. Antony Evans converted from the spot with the last kick of the game to ensure the points were shared, much to Warne's frustration.
18/04 – Exeter City 1-2 Derby County
The Rams didn’t allow the late heartbreak at Bristol to have an adverse effect on them and they instead bounced back with an important win on the following Tuesday at Exeter City.
That man McGoldrick added two more goals to his collection in the second half to put Derby in control before Jack Sparkes netted for the hosts and made for a nervy finish. The Rams stood tall in the final stages and held on for a massive three points.
22/04 – Derby County 1-0 Burton Albion
If there was ever a time to hit form, it was now and the Rams made it back-to-back wins for the first time in April when they beat local rivals Burton Albion 1-0 at Pride Park Stadium.
It was McGoldrick that found the winner midway through the second half when he converted from the spot after Max Bird had been fouled in the area.
The three points saw the Rams move back into the Sky Bet League One top six and meant that a play-off place come May was now firmly in Derby’s hands.
29/04 – Derby County 1-1 Portsmouth
The final game of the month saw the Rams take on Portsmouth at Pride Park Stadium. An incredible 31,744 packed inside Derby's home ground for the biggest attendance of the season hoping to see the Rams clinch a play-off berth.
Things didn’t go to plan early doors though as despite a period of dominance from Warne’s men, the visitors took the lead with their first attempt on goal.
It had the feeling of one of those days until substitute Collins finished brilliantly to level the scores midway through the second-half.
The result meant the Rams stayed in sixth place and would need to match or better the result of Peterborough United in the final game of the season to clinch a place in the Sky Bet League One play-offs.
Derby County Under-21s
April marked the final month of the season for Pat Lyons' side and it was one to forget as they finished bottom of Premier League 2 - Division 2.
All four fixtures resulted in defeat including the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final which ended in heart-breaking fashion against National League North side Buxton FC.
The Rams led for nearly all of the game thanks to a fine finish from Kido Taylor-Hart, but a goal in the 90th minute and the final minute of stoppage time saw the visitors turn things around and take home the trophy at Pride Park Stadium.
03/04 – Derby County Under-21s 1-5 West Bromwich Albion Under-21s
14/04 – Aston Villa Under-21s 3-0 Derby County Under-21s
19/04 – Derby County Under-21s 1-2 Buxton AFC (Derbyshire Senior Cup Final)
24/04 – Derby County Under-21s 1-4 Newcastle United Under-21s
Derby County Under-18s
It was a mixed month for the Under-18s who started in poor form but ended it brilliantly.
The first two games of the month saw them endure back-to-back defeats before they finished April four unbeaten, three of which being big wins.
A 5-2 win over Liverpool Under-18s and a 6-2 victory over Leeds United Under-18s were the pick of the bunch, as well as a 2-0 success over Under-18 Premier League North winners Manchester City.
01/04 – Derby County Under-18s 0-1 Sunderland Under-18s
15/04 – Nottingham Forest Under-18s 3-0 Derby County Unnder-18s
18/04 – Derby County Under-18s 5-2 Liverpool Under-18s
22/04 – Blackburn Rovers Under-18s 3-3 Derby County Under-18s
26/04 – Leeds United Under-18s 2-6 Derby County Under-18s
29/04 – Derby County Under-18s 2-0 Manchester City Under-18s
Derby County Women
After ending March with back-to-back defeats, Sam Griffiths' side found their steel again and finished April undefeated.
Three draws started the month before things rounded off with a hugely impressive 5-0 win over West Bromwich Albion Women.
Amy Sims, Anita Gaspar, Kira Rai, Marli Rhodes-Andrews and Jess Camwell all found the net as the Eww Rams ended the season in style.
02/04 - Derby County Women 1-1 Brighouse Town
16/04 – Wolverhampton Wanderers Women 0-0 Derby County Women
23/04 – Huddersfield Town Women 3-3 Derby County Women
30/04 – Derby County Women 5-0 West Bromwich Albion Women
